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How to renew your Illinois RN license

Last verified: · Trust editorial

Every Illinois RN license expires May 31 of even-numbered years. Renewal costs $80 and requires 20 contact hours of continuing education, including short mandatory courses in sexual harassment prevention, implicit bias, and cultural competency — all counted within the 20 hours, not on top.

Renewal checklist
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How to renew your Illinois RN license

Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) · gettrustapp.com/renew/illinois/rn-license
Every Illinois RN license expires May 31 of even-numbered years. Renewal costs $80 and requires 20 contact hours of continuing education, including short mandatory courses in sexual harassment prevention, implicit bias, and cultural competency — all counted within the 20 hours, not on top.
At a glance
Cycle
2 years — all IL RNs expire May 31 of even years (next: May 31, 2028)
Eligibility
Active IL RN; 20 CE hours in biennium; no unresolved discipline
CE
20 contact hours in the 24 months before expiration
Fee
$80 ($40/year — many sites still quote $60; that's outdated)
Restoration fee
$50 restoration + lapsed renewals (capped at $250 total)
Renewal window
Opens ~90 days before May 31; late = restoration, no grace period
Documentation retention
5 years — CE certificates with IDFPR provider numbers
Compact
Illinois is NOT in the NLC (bills pending, none passed)
Steps
  1. Confirm you're eligible to renew
    Active Illinois RN, no unresolved discipline, and you'll complete 20 CE hours by May 31 of the even year. First-time renewers within one biennium of initial licensure are CE-exempt.
  2. Complete 20 CE hours
    Finish 20 contact hours in the 24 months before May 31 — mandatory topics (sexual harassment, implicit bias, cultural competency, and Alzheimer's when applicable) count within the 20, not on top.
  3. Gather CE certificates and documentation
    Each certificate should list provider name, course title, IDFPR provider number, date, and hours. IDFPR audits roughly 3–5% of renewals — no upload at renewal, but you must produce records within 30 days of an audit letter.
  4. Log into IDFPR Online Services
    Use the legacy IDFPR portal — RN renewals aren't in the new CORE system yet. Have your license number and last 4 of SSN handy.
  5. Complete the application and attestations
    Answer the discipline and CE attestation questions. A Yes on discipline moves you to manual review; be truthful — attestation fraud is its own violation.
  6. Pay $80
    Renewal is $80 total ($40/year). Older guides quoting $60 are outdated. Payment by credit card only in the online portal.
  7. Save confirmation and license PDF to Trust
    IDFPR emails a confirmation and posts the printable license within a few business days. Next deadline: May 31, 2028, for every Illinois RN.
Trust · Reviewed July 2026 · Verify current requirements at the board's official portal before renewing.
At a glance
Cycle
2 years — all IL RNs expire May 31 of even years (next: May 31, 2028)
Eligibility
Active IL RN; 20 CE hours in biennium; no unresolved discipline
CE
20 contact hours in the 24 months before expiration
Fee
$80 ($40/year — many sites still quote $60; that's outdated)
Restoration fee
$50 restoration + lapsed renewals (capped at $250 total)
Renewal window
Opens ~90 days before May 31; late = restoration, no grace period
Documentation retention
5 years — CE certificates with IDFPR provider numbers
Compact
Illinois is NOT in the NLC (bills pending, none passed)

Requirements

Eligibility: hold an active Illinois RN license, complete 20 board-approved contact hours in the 24 months before May 31, and have no unresolved disciplinary matter. First renewal after initial licensure is fully exempt from the CE requirement.

All mandatory topics count within the 20 hours (per IDFPR's own FAQ — they don't increase the total):

  • Sexual harassment prevention — 1 hr, every renewal
  • Implicit bias awareness — 1 hr, every renewal
  • Cultural competency — 1 hr (new since 2025; repeats every 6 years)
  • Alzheimer's/dementia — 1 hr, if you provide direct care to adults 26+
  • Mandated reporter (ANCRA) — if you work with children; at least every 6 years, counts toward CE

Attestation model with audits. You do not upload certificates at renewal. IDFPR randomly audits roughly 3–5% of renewals. If audited, you have 30 days to produce certificates showing provider name, IDFPR provider number, course title, date, and hours. Missing paperwork = fine plus a formal request for compliance.

Documentation to keep for 5 years: a CE certificate for every hour claimed, including the mandatory topics. Certificates without an IDFPR provider number do not count during an audit even if the course itself was legitimate.

How to renew, step by step

  1. 01
    Confirm you're eligible to renew
    Active Illinois RN, no unresolved discipline, and you'll complete 20 CE hours by May 31 of the even year. First-time renewers within one biennium of initial licensure are CE-exempt.
  2. 02
    Complete 20 CE hours
    Finish 20 contact hours in the 24 months before May 31 — mandatory topics (sexual harassment, implicit bias, cultural competency, and Alzheimer's when applicable) count within the 20, not on top.
  3. 03
    Gather CE certificates and documentation
    Each certificate should list provider name, course title, IDFPR provider number, date, and hours. IDFPR audits roughly 3–5% of renewals — no upload at renewal, but you must produce records within 30 days of an audit letter.
  4. 04
    Log into IDFPR Online Services
    Use the legacy IDFPR portal — RN renewals aren't in the new CORE system yet. Have your license number and last 4 of SSN handy.
  5. 05
    Complete the application and attestations
    Answer the discipline and CE attestation questions. A Yes on discipline moves you to manual review; be truthful — attestation fraud is its own violation.
  6. 06
    Pay $80
    Renewal is $80 total ($40/year). Older guides quoting $60 are outdated. Payment by credit card only in the online portal.
  7. 07
    Save confirmation and license PDF to Trust
    IDFPR emails a confirmation and posts the printable license within a few business days. Next deadline: May 31, 2028, for every Illinois RN.

If you're late

No grace period. On June 1 of the even year, the license is expired. Practicing on an expired license carries civil penalties up to $10,000 per offense and is a separate violation from missing the renewal itself.

Expired ≤5 years — standard restoration: $50 restoration fee plus lapsed renewal fees, capped at $250 total. Submit proof of the required 20 CE hours (with mandatory topics), current fingerprints (taken within 60 days of the application), and the restoration application. Processing typically takes 2–6 weeks.

Expired >5 years — extended restoration: all of the above plus proof of fitness to practice — either (a) an active RN license in another U.S. state with recent practice hours, (b) passing the NCLEX again, or (c) completing a board-approved refresher course. Temporary restoration permits are available while paperwork clears.

Practical guidance for the 2026 miss: you're in the ≤5-year window — restoration is paperwork and fees, not retesting. Do not work shifts until IDFPR confirms restoration in writing. Employers verifying licensure through Nursys will see "Inactive" and can be independently penalized for allowing you to work.

Frequently asked questions

When does my Illinois RN license expire?
May 31 of even-numbered years — the same date for every RN in the state. The next deadline is May 31, 2028.
How much is renewal?
$80 ($40/year). Guides still listing $60 are out of date.
Do the mandatory topics add hours on top of the 20?
No — sexual harassment, implicit bias, cultural competency, and Alzheimer's/dementia (when applicable) all count within the 20 hours.
Is Illinois in the Nurse Licensure Compact?
No. Legislation has been introduced repeatedly but hasn't passed; compact licenses don't authorize Illinois practice.
I missed the 2026 deadline — what now?
Within 5 years, restore with a $50 restoration fee plus lapsed renewal fees (capped at $250 total), proof of CE, and fingerprints taken within 60 days. Don't work until it's resolved.
Do practice hours matter?
Not for routine renewal — CE only. Practice hours matter for the >5-year restoration path as one way to prove fitness to practice.
How long do I keep CE certificates?
Five years. IDFPR audits are random and can arrive any time within that window; a 30-day response deadline applies once you receive an audit letter.
Can I renew if I live out of state?
Yes — Illinois is not in the NLC, so any Illinois RN license (in-state or out-of-state address) renews through IDFPR Online Services the same way.

Last verified against Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) sources:

Sources — retrieved July 2026
Side-by-side

Georgia vs Illinois vs Pennsylvania

Quick reference for the three state RN renewals we cover in depth. Verify at the board's official portal before you renew.

RequirementGeorgiaIllinoisPennsylvania
Cycle2 yr — Jan 31 (even/odd cohorts)2 yr — May 31 (all RNs)2 yr — Apr 30 (odd years)
Fee$65 + $5$80$122
Late fee$75 (Feb only)$10/mo up to $50$5/mo, capped
CE hours30 hrs OR 1 of 4 alternatives20 hrs (incl. mandatory topics)30 hrs (incl. child abuse, opioids)
Mandatory topicsNoneSexual harassment, implicit bias, Alzheimer'sChild abuse (2 hr), opioids (2 hr), organ donation (1 hr, 2026)
CE audit retention4 years5 years5 years
ReportingCE BrokerNurse Portal attestationPALS attestation
Compact (NLC)Yes — eNLCNoYes — implementing 2026
Georgia RN renewal →Illinois RN renewal →Pennsylvania RN renewal →
Specialty renewals that apply in all three states: CCRN · ACLS · PALS

Trust tracks this renewal for you.

Trust reminds you at 90, 60, 30, and 7 days before May 31 — and files your CE certificates against IDFPR's audit list.

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